The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International...

Florida RaysThe Delta Kappa Gamma Society International

Vol. 63 No. 1 Mu State Organization of Key Women Educators Fall 2017

Planting, Watering and Growing Our Society

Mu State Members Enjoy Southeast Regional Conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

What’s Inside?Appreciation & Parliamentary Moment....2Greetings from the Mu State President...3Reflections from SERC...........................4Executive Secretary & Ed Excellence.....5World Fellowship Tribute.........................6Membership & FL Leadership Seminar...7

Donations to FL Leadership Seminar.......8Keeping Your Chapter Connected............92017 Mu State Hall of Fame............10 & 11Chapters Sharing their Vision.......... .......12FL DKG Educational Foundation.............13Poetry Corner..................................13 & 14Celebration of Life...................................15

Appreciation from Immediate Past Mu State President

Mu State Sisters, I thank you for all you did for Mu State during the 2015 - 2017 biennium including your dedication to new members, your chapters, Mu State, work for our Society, and your friendship to make our members welcome. Thanks for sharing and presenting your exciting and valuable ideas and events with others.

I appreciate all the extra time and work you provided during the spring, and the tremendous job you did to make our convention special. Thank you for your dedication and prayers for Jim and me. They were much needed and made a difference to both of us.

I enjoyed seeing you at Fall Workshop—you are the best!.

Love and blessings,Gerry B.Hacker

[email protected]

Parliamentary Moment: Handling Business Smoothly

Dr. Helen PopovichMu State Parliamentarian

[email protected]

Meetings run more smoothly if members know when it’s appropriate to offer various motions and understand the process for handling them. Test your knowledge by answering the following ques-tions:

1. An officer’s report concludes with a recommendation.Is the motion to adopt the recommendation made immediately

after the officer’s report or during New Business? Who makes the motion?Who seconds the motion?

2. A committee report concludes with a recommendation.Is the motion to adopt the recommendation made immediately

after the committee report or during New Business?Who makes the motion?

Who seconds the motion?

3. During Good of the Order at the end of the chapter’s last meet-ing, a member recommended that the chapter consider giving gift baskets to new teachers. Then, at the current meeting, a motion is made to adopt that project.

Is this motion made during Unfinished Business or New Business?Who can make the motion?

See answers on page 8...

Florida Rays Mu State Organization

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International

Volume 63, Number 1Fall 2017

Florida Rays: (USPS 091-890) (ISSN: 0896-3711)

Published 4 times each year by Mu State Organization of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International at 531 Hadley Drive, Palm Harbor, FL 34683.

Periodical postage paid at Tallahassee, Florida and additional post offices.

POSTMASTER/MEMBERS: Send address changes to The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, P.O. Box 1589, Austin, Texas 78767-1589.

Editor Bonnie S. Kelley, Ed.S.

531 Hadley Drive Palm Harbor, FL 34683

Telephone: 727-786-1959 E-mail: [email protected]

FLORIDA RAYS Fall 2017

2015 - 2017Mu State Officers

President Carol Ann Casey

[email protected]

First Vice-PresidentDr. Nancy Henning

[email protected]

Second Vice-PresidentRoxanne Berger

[email protected]

Recording SecretaryGeraldine DeFelix

[email protected]

Corresponding SecretaryMary Lee Erhardt

[email protected]

ParliamentarianDr. Helen Popovich

[email protected]

Immediate Past Mu State President

Gerry [email protected]

Greetings from Carol Ann Casey Florida (Mu) State President

To all of my DKG sisters, I welcome you to the 2017 - 2019 biennium of the Florida Mu State Organization. I hope you had a wonderful sum-mer and are beginning to enjoy a delightful fall. Your Florida Mu State officers met at the Orlando Marriott Lake Mary on August 20-21, 2017, for their officer training, and are ready and eager to serve you. Pictured from left to right seated on the couch are Parliamentarian Dr. Helen Popovich, Immediate Past President Gerry Hacker, Treasurer Bev-erly Stagg, and First Vice-President Dr. Nancy Henning. Standing are Second Vice-President Roxanne Berger, President Carol Ann Casey, Recording Secretary Geraldine DeFelix, and Corresponding Secretary Mary Lee Erhardt.

I do hope you were able to attend Fall Workshop. There was something for everyone. The weekend started on Friday evening with informative and interesting workshops which continued on Saturday. Then the fun began with a delightful Social Hour. Our new signature drink, the “Tudor Rose” was introduced. One dollar of each drink was donated back to our state fund that helps defray the costs of our members attending the US Forum Legislative Seminar in Washington, DC, in March of 2018, and our “Rally in Tally.” Saturday’s Executive Board Meeting brought the announcement and vote on establishing a NEW chapter. It will be Delta Nu in District IV located in Stuart, Martin County. Lunch topped off the weekend with our World Fellowship recipient at the Uni-versity of Florida, Alexandra Olszewska, speaking to us; celebrating our “Golden Girls” with fifty or more years of membership; and recognizing our First Timers.

It’s now time to get to work on a new year and biennium. It’s time for renewal of membership. Time to reach out to current and new members in our chapters. Time to reach out to inactive members and encourage them to re-instate. They might just be waiting for you to invite them back. Time to find meaningful programs and activities to keep our members engaged and active. Give members a responsibility, so they have a purpose - a reason for belonging. Let them know they are needed.

It’s also time to get involved and take on active leadership roles, no matter how small. In the next couple of months, you will be electing new chapter officers and selecting new committees in order to take part in train-ing at the district meetings, so they will feel confident and ready to begin their duties in July. We are “Leading Women Educators.” Yes, we are all leaders! That is one of the many traits that was noticed about you when invited to join this remarkable society. When asked to serve, accept. Better yet, volunteer. Remember that someone “noticed your work and standards and believed in your potential.” It’s time to step up to the plate.

As we start forming our focus and goals for this biennium, please share with me, the other officers, district directors, and committee chairs your ideas of what we are doing right and what we need to do to make this a

more viable organization. Let us know your needs, thoughts, and concerns.

As we look to all of our challenges, possibilities, and dreams that are before us, even though they might take us out of our comfort zones, you/we “can do it.” As we work together as a team/family, we “will do it.”

“Oh, the Places We’ll Go with DKG!”Let me hear from you!

Carol Ann [email protected]

954-437-4468 (H)954-562-8948 (C)



Reflections from SERC

As DKG members landed at the Myrtle Beach Airport, they were greeted with a welcome message on a multi-screen monitor. Similarly, as attendees arrived at the Myrtle Beach Sheraton Hotel and Convention Center, there was another greeting on display. When members entered the hotel, South Carolina members warmly welcomed attendees to their state.

Before the First General Meeting on Wednesday night, 2017-2019 State Organization Presidents, Executive Secretaries, Membership Chairs, Educa-tional Excellence Chairs, Treasurers, Webmasters, and Editors were provided leadership development training opportunities starting Monday night. Pictured above seated from left to right are Mu State Editor Bonnie Kelley, Treasurer Beverly Stagg, and standing Executive Secretary Carrie Frye, Mem-bership Chair Nancy Marmash, and Educational Excellence Chair Mary Jo Holleran. South Carolina Night had The Ocean Drive Shag Club demonstrate different shag dance styles followed by The Embers who provided beach music for attendees to dance.

Several Mu State members presented concurrent sessions. Carrie Frye presented Tools and Tips for Vibrant Chapter Membership which shared resources and practices to empower and engage

all members leading to chapter growth. Dr. Beverly Helms presented Molly Member Seeks Internation-al Elected Postion which traced the path that mem-bers would need to follow to be elected to an Interna-tional Elected Positon by conventon attendees. The method would be presented as an amendment at the International Standing Rules. Both of the Electronic General Election Option and the Delegate Election Option were reviewed. Dr. Peg Dunn-Snow pre-sented The HEAT is on! Rise to a Higher Degree Through DKG International Scholarships. She raised awareness that $6,000 or $10,000 in DKG Scholarships opportunities are available to all mem-bers of the Society pursuing post-gratuate degrees. Peg also presented Appreciative Inquiry: Your Conversation and Creativity Can Change Our So-ciety which is the first part of a positive and creative two-step process to make changes at the grass-roots level within our chapters. Dr. Nancy Henning co-presented Leading, Mentoring, and Sharing: Our Golden Gift 2016 Experience by describing how professional seminars, leadership development, personal growth experiences, and making global con-nections through DKG have impacted her personal and professional life.

A new addition to the agenda was a series of 10-Minute Take-Aways. Past International Presi-dent Dr. Beverly Helms presented one entitled Election of International Positons by Conven-tion Attendees which provided a quick descus-sion of amendments to be brought to the 2018 convention in Austin, Texas. Myrna Santos

presented a 10-Minute Take-Away on Educating the World, One Woman at a Time by providing specific examples of how contributions to the World Fellow-ship Fund have impacted education worldwide.

During Thursday’s Impacting Literacy Luncheon, Dr. Peg Dunn-Snow recognized the scholarship awardees. During one of the general sessions, Mu State President Carol Ann Casey led the group in singing Put a Little Music in Your Life and For Friendships We Cherish. During the US Forum, Carrie Frye lead a Moment of Inspiration as the Past SERC Representative to the US Forum. During Saturday’s Impacting Leadership Luncheon, Mu State Past President Merle Jones provided the Inspiration before the meal.


From the Desk of the Executive Secretary...

Carrie [email protected](386) 668-4409

On behalf of the DKG members of FL (Mu) State Organization, I wish to express to Judith Mix on her retirement from the state executive secretary position our sincerest gratitude for her exemplary service in that role. Judith has set the bar very high for anyone following her as she served with grace, diligence, and dedication. Thank you, Judith!

Judith provided service to every member in Florida. As some of you have already experienced, I plan to follow Judith’s example. If you have a question, a concern, or just wish to share, I will respond prompt-ly. Please make note of the following:

1. If I don’t know, I can’t help. Contact me about any DKG matter.

2. Keep me current of your contact information. Send changes immediately.

3. A message of “high importance” sent to anyone by me is from our state president, Carol Ann Casey, or me, and requires your attention and/or action immediately.

4. Messages sent to chapter presidents with a note to forward to all chapter members are important and should be forwarded promptly! A chapter president is the liaison between state officers and the member.

By working cohesively and expeditiously, we will keep our members well informed. Timely communi-cation is key to the success of our state organization. Thank you for the confidence you have placed in me as your newly-elected executive secretary. I look forward to working with and serving each of you.

Educational Excellence Committee

Mary Jo Holleran,Chairmholleran8890@gmail.

com

As our committee explores and shares professional and personal growth opportunities throughout Mu State, we recognize that one size does not fit all. What may work in one chapter or community may not be the best fit in another. One common goal within DKG, however, is life-long learning and train-ing.

In that vein, Gamma Nu Chapter in District VI has taken a leap in organizing its first annual Coffee, Donuts and Literacy. This event is designed to bring together a chapter and its community for a morning focused on literacy. Gamma Nu invites you to attend and grow as the chapter has gathered several local community resources to present at their Saturday morning mini-conference.

All chapters are encouraged to borrow this model, perhaps focusing on a topic that is relevant in your area. Concurrent one-hour sessions are planned and those who attend will be asked to choose and attend the two in which they are most interested. The event goals are listed below.

Reading-related giveaways and raffle drawings are included and everything that is offered, from presen-tations to refreshments to venue, has been donated! It’s a chapter fundraiser charged with delivering four essential goals to its audience.

Goals:*To raise awareness of community’s literacy needs*Provide resources and education for literacy need*Share the literacy expertise of our DKG chapter members *Raise awareness of the goals/purposes of Delta Kappa Gamma

Audience:*teachers in public/private preschool-12th grade*parents*community members interested in literacy

Chapter presidents are asked to share their own chapters’ unique personal and professional growth models with me at the email address above and we will feature your ideas here soon! If any of your chapter officers and/or members want to attend Coffee, Donuts and Literacy, please email me and I will make sure you receive an informational flyer to share.

Students from Ft. Pierce Magnet also contributed to the performance. The school’s steel drum band, Pan-tastic!, performed traditional music of the Caribbean to recognize the recipients from that region. The concert culminated with the rousing Ritmo Jondo (Flamenco) by Spanish composer Carlos Surinach. This exciting piece, featuring percussion instruments and hand clappers, was chosen to represent recip-ient Teresa Zulueta Coarasa who is working toward her Ph.D. in biomedical engineering.

Audience members at the concert not only enjoyed a wonderful musical performance – they also had an opportunity to learn a little more about the World Fellowship Program and about the cultures of some of the recipients. The Committee plans to make this a biennial event that will be hosted at different locations throughout Florida and will raise proceeds to benefit World Fellowship Scholarship awardees. Plans are under way to present a Music Around the World concert in the District V area in 2019.

Photo: St. Lucie county musicians (from left) James Thoma, Jenny Rosser, Josh Woods, Melissa Ro-eder, and Joann Kinder perform Spanish composer Carlos Surinach’s Ritmo Jondo at the World Fellow-ship Tribute concert.


A World Fellowship Tribute:Music Around the World

Katrina McMenamy, Committee MemberMu State World [email protected]

Myrna J. [email protected]

Chair, Mu State World Fellowship CommitteeMember, International World Fellowship Committee

The sounds of music from around the globe filled the air at the World Fellowship Tribute Concert, Music Around the World, that was presented on April 8th at the Fort Pierce Magnet School of the Arts in St. Lucie County. World Fellowship Committee Chair Myrna Santos organized the performance by local musicians, including Tau Chapter members Shaki-ya Drayton on percussion, Joann Kinder on flute and horn, Katrina McMenamy on clarinet, and Me-lissa Roeder on bassoon. Musical selections were chosen to represent the countries of current World Fellowship recipients. Katrina McMenamy did an outstanding job in coordinating the music.

The first piece performed was Four Bagatelles by Terrence Greaves, performed in honor of recipient Rebecca Tollan of the U.K. who is earning her Ph.D. in Linguistics. The home country of recipient Iryna Gudyma was the inspiration for Ukrainian compos-er Myroslav Skoryk’s Partita No. 7 for woodwind quintet. Gudyma is pursuing her Master’s degree in Globalization and Development Communication.


Celebrate Your Chapter Members

Nancy Marmesh, ChairMembership/Expansion

[email protected]

As part of Fall Workshop, we cel-ebrated our FL DKG Golden Girls. These are ladies who have been members of Delta Kappa Gamma for 50 years or more. The Golden Girls are our trea-sures. They inspired and paved the way for many of us in DKG.

Here’s a question to think about…How are you cele-brating the members in your chapter?There are so many ways to make connections. Find a way to celebrate the ladies in your group by letting them share their special talents. Recognize ladies as they reach membership milestones. Celebrate birthdays. Share professional and personal accom-plishments. Please email me and let me know the creative ways you celebrate your chapter members. I would love to hear from you. Let’s get the word out.

Reminder: Prompt notification of the death of a member (Form 6) should be completed by the chap-ter president and sent to Membership Services Administration at [email protected], Mu State Trea-surer Beverly Stagg at [email protected], and Mu State Necrology Representative Joann Higgins at [email protected]

The 2018 Florida Jesslyn McBride Leadership Seminar

Carleen [email protected]

Now is the time…. Now is YOUR time! You are invited to submit an application to attend the next Jesslyn McBride Leadership Seminar. It will be held from June 24 – 27, 2018, at the Marriott Lake

Mary and it is the perfect opportunity for you to take some well-deserved time for yourself. So what takes place at this event? It does morph somewhat each time it is offered, largely due to the goal of keeping up with new research, new technologies and participant feedback, but the goal is always to focus on profes-sional, personal and society issues and development. Whether you are a new educator looking to sharpen your skills, a seasoned professional pursuing ad-vancement, or a retiree seeking a refresher, there is a meaningful experience waiting for you at the seminar. We gather on Sunday afternoon with get-acquainted activities and events which provide fellowship and opportunities for all attendees to connect with each other. This has been one of the highlights of the experience as those attending Mu State meetings continue to fondly reconnect with classmates from past seminars. Opportunities abound to participate in learning ex-periences, both prescribed and self-selected. These sessions address thoughtful concepts in today’s educational environment and the rapidly changing landscape of best practices. Personal self-reflection and goal-setting is also a featured component of the seminar and participants are provided the time to thoughtfully examine and define purpose and aspi-ration for themselves. And time is also provided to address Society issues, both at the chapter level and service beyond the chapter. So what are the obligations? Well, you need to get yourself there. Travel is the responsibility of the participant. There is also a $150 commitment fee for those accepted; however, many chapters willingly pay this fee. All materials are included as is the hotel room (double occupancy), and all meals and snacks except for Monday night’s dinner. That meal is a great opportunity to visit one of the local restaurants with those who enjoy the same type of cuisine – any-thing from McDonald’s to Ruth’s Chris Steak House. Sign me up! It’s as easy as downloading the appli-cation from the Mu State website. If you attended the fall workshop, there was a Leadership table with onsite applications accepted. Please note that the Seminar is held only once each biennium, so this is your chance to be a part of a very special group of women educators from Florida who come together to grow professionally and personally, while strengthen-ing our Society at the chapter and state level. Sign up today!

Donations to The Jesslyn McBride Florida Leadership Seminar

Beverly StaggFlorida (Mu) State Treasurer

[email protected]

The Jesslyn McBride Leadership Seminar Fund gratefully acknowledges the following contributions to the fund during the 2016 - 2917 fiscal year:

Donations:District II Meeting Proceeds

Beta Omega ChapterPat Litterick

Joyce CotnerCarolyn FoosheeCarol Ann CaseyTerry Stanilonis

In Honor/Memory of:Beta Rho Chapter Honor of Carrie Frye Ann Marie Spakowski Memory of Mary Condon PaulishenBeta Omega Chapter Memory of Graycie M. CameronBeta Omega Chapter Memory of Jean S. JohnsonBeverly Stagg Memory of Tom MixBarbara van Diepen Memory of Tom MixAnn Blosfield Memory of Tom MixCarrie Frye Memory of Tom MixCarol Ann Casey Memory of Tom MixPi Chapter Memory of Tom MixElsie Gross Memory of Tom MixBonnie Ignico Memory of Tom MixCarrie Frye Memory of Jodi NesiGamma Gamma Chapter Memory of Tom MixXi Chapter Memory of Tom Mix

Answers to Parliamentary Moment from Page 2

Question #1: The motion should be made immediately after the report. An officer should not make the motion herself, but any member other than an officer can make the motion. Any member other than an officer or the maker of the motion can second it.Question #2: The motion is made immediately after the committee report. The member who gave the report makes the motion. It needs no second since more than one member (the majority of the committee) has already expressed a desire that the chapter should consider it.Question #3: It is made during New Business. If an actual motion had been made during New Business in the previous meeting and the meeting had adjourned before a vote was taken on the question, consideration of the question would occur under Unfinished Business. Any member can make the motion.



Keeping Your Chapter Connected!

Neena Grosvenor, ChairCommunications and Publicity Committee

[email protected]

As your new Communications Committee Chair, my goal is to increase the web presence of more chapters, to promote connections among chapters within our state, and to inform members of updates from state committees. With the number of digital tools at our finger-tips, and with a little bit of planning, it is possible to share ideas and resources at any time.

Many of today’s teachers are integrating the use of technology in their classroom. Since we are an organi-zation of educators, the use of technology should also be reflected within our chapters. Like many of today’s teachers, we must embrace the use of digital tools to connect with members on a regular basis and showcase the important work that we do. It is necessary to incorporate digital tools in order to stay relevant and viable in this fast-paced, Internet-based society. Using social media and having a web presence is vital to the longevity of our organization. Additionally, keeping members in the loop is critical to the organization’s success.

Delta Kappa Gamma has several chapters that have embraced the use of technology, thus keeping their membership informed and connected. More chapters need to take up the charge to build a web presence for the purpose of keeping members informed and ultimately, to attract new member candidates. Having a web presence is a great way to share the wonderful work each chapter is doing to support the community and to support educators and students in local schools. Staying connected is much easier to do with the myriad of free digital tools available. The goal of the Communications Commit-tee is to increase the use of digital tools in more chapters in Mu State.

The Communications Committee is tasked with assisting chapters in finding ways to keep members informed through the use of digital tools, such as a chapter website and social media apps. The Communications Committee has asked each chapter president to select a member from their chapter to be the communications representative. This will ensure that members stay informed of updates from both the state and international committees. Work-shops were conducted by the Communications Committee at the Mu State Fall Workshop / Executive Board Meeting on September 22 & 23, 2017. Additional workshops will be held at the upcoming district meetings next year. We will be sending out a survey to each chapter to determine the digital tools being used in chapters throughout the state. Please consider each category of the survey since the questions being asked will inform you of the areas that need to be addressed in order to be eligible for the Mu State Communications Award. More information will be forthcoming regarding the criteria for this award.

Finally, we are all very busy, but please encourage chapter members (especially those serving as officers) to monitor email and social media apps regularly to stay current in order to support the work of the chapter, district, and state initiatives. I look forward to meeting you in person at future district and state meetings.


A Tribute to the 2017 Mu State Hall of Fame

Barbara VanDiepen, ChairAwards Committee

The women inducted into the Mu State Hall of Fame represent the finest ideals of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. It is through their labors and distin-guished service that Mu State has become a viable and healthy or-ganization of members committed to education and to each other.

These inductees are true exam-ples of women helping women. May their example cause many more to follow in their footsteps so that the future of our Society will be assured. As we honor them, we are honoring Annie Webb Blanton and her inspiring ideals. In recognizing the service of these wormen, we are honoring the contributions and service of all our DKG sisters.

Joanne Hogan

Initiated in 1973 into Omega Chapter in Maryland, Joanne Hogan transferred in 1990 to Beta Kappa Chapter in Florida. At the chapter level, she served as treasurer and president.

Since moving to Florida, Joanne has attended all district and state meetings, served on both the Nominations and Scholarship Committees, and assisted with registration for state meetings.

She has attended the Southeast Regional Convention in Biloxi and internaitonal conventions in Baltimore, Williamsburg, and Little Rock.

On the professional level, Joanne earned a Masters in Education. On a personal level, she has 2 sons, 1 daughter, 10 grandchil-dren, and 16 great grandchildren.

Jeanne Jones

Joanne’s twin, Jeanne Jones was also initiated into the Omega Chapter of DKG in Maryland in 1973. In Maryland, she served as First Vice-President and Treasur-er. From 1991-1993, Jeanne was President of Alpha Beta State.

In 2000, she transfered to Beta Kappa Chapter in Florida where she was President for two bi-ennia. She has served on the Mu State Directory Committee, Awards Committee, and Member-ship Committee. Since 2000, she has attended district and state meetings. She has assisted with registration at state meetings. From 1987-1995 and 2004-2005, she attended both regional and international conventions.

Jeanne obtained her Bachelors in Education degree from Fairmont State College and Masters in Ed-ucation degree from the University of Maryland. She served as Pres-ident of Maryland State Teachers Association from 1973-1974, Maryland NEA Director from 1976-1980, and President of Maryland Retired Teachers Association from 1991-1992.

In 2015, her husband Morris C. Jones passed away. In addition to her six children, Jeanne has 15 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren.

Melissa (Missy) Jones

In 2008, Missy Jones was initiat-ed into Beta Chi Chapter. At the chapter level, she served on the


Educational Excellence Commit-tee, and Communications Commit-tee before serving two consecutive terms as Chapter President from 2014-2018.

At the state level, she was a par-ticipant in the Mu State Leadership Seminar, State Meetings Registrar from 2008-2012, and Mu State Webmaster since 2015. In 2013, she was a presenter at the South-east Regional Conference.

Missy earned her Bachelors of Education in Elementary Educa-tion, Masters of Curriculum and Instruction and Technology, and Educational Specialist degree in Instructional Leadership. She is married to her husband John, has a 19-year old son Ian, and 4 cats.

Jan T. Stevens

Initiated into Rho Chapter in 2001, Jan Stevens served as Program Chair, on the Nomina-tions and Yearbook Committee, in addition to Chapter Treasurer from 2002-2010 and Chapter President from 2010-2014.

At the district level, Jan served

as District IV Director form 2011-2013 and attended 14 district meetings. At the state level, Jan was a participant in the Mu State Leadership Seminar, member of the Communications and By-Laws Committee, and District IV Director from 2011-2013. She attended the Southeast Regional Conference in Orlando and Savannah and the DKG International Convention in Nashville.

Jan earned a Masters of Educa-tion in Administration and Supervi-sion from Stetson University. She holds Professional Educator Cer-tification in Administration, Physi-cal Education, and Mathematics. Her awards include receiving the DKG 75th Anniversary Stipend Award and serving as a panelist on the White House Committee for A Drug Free America. Her honors include Florida Secondary Physical Education Teacher of the Year in 1991, New Smyrna Beach High School Teacher of the Year in 2011, and Five Star Conference Volleyball Coach of the Year.

Marilyn C. Terry

In 1984, Marilyn Terry was initiated as a DKG member into Lambda Chapter. She served on the fol-lowing committees: Communica-tions, Membership, Nominations, Yearbook, and Finance. Her offic-es included Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Second Vice-President, and Chapter President from 1994-1996. Since 1990, she regularly attends district meetings and pre-sented a workshop in 2004.

At the state level, Marilyn attends most state meetings and partici-pated in the Mu State Leadership Seminar in 1995. She served on the Headquarters Committee which she chaired from 2007-2009. She also was a member of the Personnel and World Fellow-ship Committees.

Marilyn attended the Southeast Regional Conference in Charles-ton, Atlanta, Biloxi, Charlotte, Williamsburg, New Orleans, Little Rock, and Orlando. She also attended DKG Internatiional Con-ventions in Nashville, Toronto, Lit-tle Rock, Minneapolis, San Diego, New York City, and Nashville.Marilyn earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business Education, Mas-ter of Arts in Vocational and Adult Education, and Ed.S. in Curric-ulum and Instruction, Vocational Education from University of South Florida.

Her honors include being named Polk County Vocational Educator of the Year in 1992, Auburndale High School Teacher of the Year in 1993, Future Business Lead-ers of America Hall of Fame in 1998. Marilyn retired in 2006 after thirty-five years of teaching. She is married to Elder Wallace Murphy, and they have a son Randall Terry, daugher Regina Terry Stone, 8 grandhildren, and 3 great grand-children.

Delta Eta Chapter hosts four Bre-vard area Chapters. District IV Di-rector Linda Vaughn, Past State President Carrie Frye, Guest Speaker Amy Sweezey who is a meteorologist and author; and First Vice-President Carol Ann Casey joined Delta Eta Chapter President Beth Dewey, and Delta Eta member Susan Seimer.

Past State President Carrie Frye speaks to Alpha Rho Chapter members on current legislation issues and encouraged members to become active in speaking up for education and rights of children and women. Alpha Rho officers are pictured above with Carrie.

Four Brevard Area Chapters met at Patrick Air Force Base. Pictured are guests Carrie Frye, Carol Ann Casey, Linda Vaughn, Carol Killingsworth, Renee Bernhard, Barbara Wilcox, Theresa Mc-Donald, and Beth Dewey.

Beta Omega Chapter warmly welcomes three new members- Cheryl Dulin, Judith Overcash, and Donna Douglas. Before retir-ing from Seminole Middle School in Pinellas County, Cheryl was well-respected as a creative, car-ing, and dedicated science teach-er. Judith retired from Leila Davis Elementary and now volunteers as a docent at the Dali Museum, drives a BayCare van, and works at a soup kitchen. She is very cre-ative with pottery, watercolors, silk screen printing, and book making. Donna taught general and special education for 37 years, and now volunteers at Belcher Elementary and Paul B. Stephens Exceptional Student Center.

Michelle Martinez-Blanco, Presi-dent of Epsilon Chapter, was delighted to present the Elvira Dopico Book Award to Christian P. Saldana, a recent graduate of Mi-ami Sunset High School. Christian portrays those traits and qualities which emulate Elvira’s life. He has a love of music and was captain of the Soul Hip Hop dance team while in high school. The team was recognized for winning many awards. As a freshmen, due to his sister’s being killed by a drunk driver, Christian reinstated the SADD club. He also held an office in student government. Christian is currently attending Miami Dade College.


Chapters Sharing Their Vision

District II Director Sam Wright presents a beautiful cake with pic-tures of the twelve DKG Founders to Alpha Rho Chapter President Rae Jean James at a chapter meeting.

Beta Phi Chapter in Tallahassee kicked off the 2017 - 2018 year with an Ice Cream Social and Birthday celebration on Sunday, August 27th. What a jam-packed, fun-filled time as Beta Chi Chap-ter accepted five candidates for membership! The chapter was joined by the Ladies of Lastinger, a Southern Scholarship Foun-dation House on the campus of Florida State University. Beta Phi supports the house by packing their pantry with non-perishable food, paper products and cleaning supplies. The generosity of their members filled three cars with supplies. In the photo above, Beta Phi President Sharon Simmons joins Shirley Marshall and the Ladies of Lastinger House to celebrate Pack the Pantry. Addi-tionally, chapter members donated much needed school supplies to five local schools in Leon and Gadsden Counties. We are truly MIGHTY!


Florida DKG Educational Foundation

Ann Tikka, Ed.S.Board of Directors

Florida Educational [email protected]

The Florida DKG Educational Foundation (FLDK-GEF) encourages chapter contacts identified by chapter presidents to keep the Foundation visible to members. If your chapter doesn’ have an Education-al Foundation contact, select and forward the name and email address to Merle Jones at [email protected]. This person will be the Foundation’s contact to receive and share Foundation information and to encourage contributions to the Foundation to support professional development awards.

Thanks to all who have contributed to the FLDKGEF. Mu State’s 2017 Convention Program listed con-tributors as of February 16, 2017. Several of those contributions were made in honor, or memory of, a member. When a contribution is made in honor or in memory, the Foundation sends a notice to the family.

The Educational Foundation appreciates contribu-tions made since the last published list on February 16. Thank you to the following contributors:Alpha Iota Chapter Alpha Theta Chapter Ann Tikka Beta Chi ChapterCarrie Frye (3) Dixie Slater (2)Dr. Beverly Helms Dr. Elsie GrossDr. Evelyn B. Kelly Mary Lee Erhardt

For further information or to make a contribution to the Florida DKG Educational Foundation, go to the website at http://www.fldkgef.org and check out the fall edition of the Educator Express.

Florida Ray’s Poetry CornerCarolyn McGowan

Mu State Betty ThorntonArts & Crafts Exhibit Chair

[email protected](352) 394-5336

Mu State is looking for Delta Kappa Gamma members to display their poetry in the new regu-lar column, Poetry Corner. If you have poetry that you have written and would like to share with your Mu State sisters, please email me 3 - 5 poems for possible inclusion. Also, email me a digital photo of yourself and a short bio. Please refer to page 14 to use this issue’s format as a guide.

Carolyn McGowan is not a stranger to Mu State! Having submitted her crafts in the past for the Mu State Betty Thornton Arts & Crafts Exhibit, Carolyn McGowan is excited to have been selected as Chair for this biennium. Previously having served Mu State as Second Vice-President, Corresponding Secretary, Meetings Treasurer, District IV Director, Program of Work Chair, and Chair/Member of several other com-mittees, she has not missed a state meeting since 1988. She has written articles for the Florida Rays and presented workshops at Mu State, district meet-ings, and Southeast Regional Conference, and has been interviewed on television regarding educational issues. As a member of Gamma Delta Chapter for 35 years, she served as President for two bienniums and Membership Chair for twelve years. She resides in Clermont with Marcus, her husband of 47 years. Before retiring, Carolyn taught kindergarten and gifted at Clermont Elementary. Also, she supervised intern teachers at the University of Central Florida.


This is the second installment of Poetry Corner which will be a regular column in the

Florida Rays.In the summer issue,

Nancy Benz shared a poem that she wrote about her

impressions of the spring Rally in Tally in which Mu

State members participated.

Featured Poet: Cindy Huggins

Cindy Huggins resides in Gene-va, Florida, with her husband of 47 years. She began her teaching career in Indiana where she was a graduate of Hanover College. She moved to Florida in 1973 where she obtained her M. Ed. from the now University of Cen-tral Florida, taught Middle School Language Arts for 34 years, and raised their two children. She be-gan writing poetry in her mid for-ties, finding herself most inspired by nature, her Indiana roots, and special occasions. Cindy has been a DKG member of the Beta Chi Chapter since 1998.

Grandma and Robert Frost

Robert Frost brought Grandma and me together this morning;I cannot tell you why I cried.Perhaps it was seeing her notes in the margin of his biographyMaking selections from a list of his poems – Some crossed out,Some marked “very good.”Her words reached out to me across the years.Her thoughts reached out through time,And we were connected.

Frost touched something in GrandmaAnd in me,A poet searching for expression of something inward yet universalSet in the bounty of nature,Exposing the mysteries of life,Reminding us of “roads not taken.”

I think I have a lot of Grandma in me:Her love of books, of words, of nature,Of flowers in a mason jar,Her love of learning and sharing and communing with friends.She had a strength about her not only of frameBut of faith.Too, she had an accepting, welcoming embrace that I had almost forgotten Until this morningWhen we embraced again on the pages of a poet.

Overlooking the Ohio

I sit on the balcony overlooking the town of MadisonAnd the Ohio River.I try to drown out the sound of the cars to hear the clop of the horses’ hooves, slowly making their way down the street – To hear the hucksters calling out their wares near the river road.I try to block out the telephone wires and parked carsTo see the homes of an early river town – To see the barges and paddleboats, parading up and down the waterway.

What coursed through the veins of the early settlers – The blood of a survivor or an adventurer?Or, perhaps, like that of today,Blood that encompasses the passions of both – The need of the moment fused with the desire for more?

I find myself thinking of freedom.Were people as free then?Free to travel – to interact – to realize their potential?How much did distinctions of class, color, gender, and educationRegulate and restrict?Could it be, that knowing one’s place, one’s role, one’s limitationsMight have been more freeing, in a sense,Because it eliminated the need for second-guessingAnd the quest for more?

No, I will not discount the Spirit of man,Manifested throughout history and revealed through literature.I am reminded that no matter what period in time –No matter one’s station – The search for meaning and fulfillment and peaceRemains the same.The blood in our veins connects one man to another – Past, present, future – Like the river flowing below. Madison, Indiana

Jodi Nesti, daughter of Mu State-member Pat Litterick, was in-volved in a tragic boating accident In 2009, Jodi Nesti was initiated into Beta Mu Chapter where she served on the Membership Committee. Jodi was a well-loved Speech Pathologist and Chair-woman of the Thunder Bay Health Sciences Foundation’s Board of Directors Thunder Bay Health Ser-vices. She was forty-two years old.

Marjean L. TherianAlpha Rho Chapter

Ocala, FLJuly 20, 2017

Marjean Therian passed away. She was past president of Alpha Rho Chapter and past president of her former chapter in Valencia, California.

Marjean was a very active mem-ber at the state level until health issues arose during the last few years. Even so, she continued to attend Alpha Rho Chapter meet-ings, prepare table decorations for every meeting, and assist with the agenda and any other way.

Marjean designed the cover of the program for the District II Confer-ence to be held in February. She was a very talented and artistic individual and gave so much of herself to making Alpha Rho the chapter that it is today. She will be sadly missed by all members of the chapter.


A Celebration of Life

Mary Jean DavisDelta ChapterGainesville, FLMarch 5, 2017

Mary Jean Davis, 80, of Gaines-ville, Florida, passed away peace-fully on March 5, 2017, in Gaines-ville with her family by her side after suffering from an unexpected and devastating stroke five days earlier. She was born on April 11, 1936, in Bisbee, Arizona. Follow-ing the death of her father at an early age, her mother and family moved to Ashland, Oregon, where she spent her formative years.

Mary Jean Davis married in 1955, raised three children, and eventu-ally settled in Gainesville in 1967. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Southern Ore-gon College, Master’s Degree in Education from Arizona State Uni-versity, and Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Florida. She worked in the field of education for 41 years.

In 1968, Mary Jean began her teaching career at Littlewood Elementary School. She continued her classroom teaching with posi-tions at Williams Elementary and Ft. Clarke Middle School. In 1983, Mary Jean was named Supervisor of Beginning Teacher and Special Programs for Alachua County- a position she would hold for 12 years. From 1995 until 1998, she served as an Assistant Principal at Westwood Middle School. In 1998, Mary Jean was named Principal

of High Springs Elementary which was a position she held until her retirement in 2003.

In 2004, Mary Jean returned as a Grant Specialist and Principal Consultant for the State of Florida. Over the next 6 years, this position took her throughout the state to as-sist school districts with curriculum and administrative leadership. In 2013, she was initiated into DKG.

Catherine C. LanhamGamma Mu Chapter

Orange Park, FLMay 10, 2017

Catherine Cantelou Lanham of Orange Park, passed away at age 88 on May 10, 2017. Born on March 25, 1929, she attended elementary and high school in Edgefield, SC, before attending Winthrop University.

Catherine was an elementary school teacher for over 30 years, spending most of her career at Orange Park Elementary in Clay County, FL. Since September of 1974, she was a member of DKG.

She had a positive influence on countless children and all of those she knew. Family and friends were Catherine’s passion and delight. She loved to knit, sew, garden, cook and read. She loved her pets like they were children, too.

Jodi NestiBeta Mu ChapterMiddleburg, FL

July 8, 2017

2018 Mu State FL District Meetings

District I- March 3- Tallahassee“Stepping Stones to Success”Augusta Raa Middle School

District II- February 10- Ocala“Run for the Roses”

Marion Technical College

District III- April 14- New Port Richey“Umoja- Celebrating Diversity,

Uniting Community”Marchman Technical College

District IV- March 24- Okeechobee“Denim & Pearls”

Indian River State College

District V- February 24- Boca Raton“See the light; BE the Light”

Sate Schools Institute

District VI- April 28- Port Charlette“DKG: Everthing We Do Matters;

It’s the Butterfly Effect!”Murdock Baptist Church

Information Sources

DKG Mu State Florida Websitewww.dkgmustateflorida.weebly.com

DKG Mu State (FL) on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/DKG-Florida-State-Organiza-

tion-128818413969052/

Florida (Mu State) on Twitter@DKGMuState FL

Florida DKG Educational Foundation Website

www.fldkgef.org

Florida DKG Educational Foundation on Facebookwww.facebook.com/FLDKGEF

Florida DKG Educational Foundation on Twitter

@FLDKGEF

Florida Rays

Members are encouraged to email information to be used in the Florida

Rays to Bonnie Kelley at [email protected]

February 1.......Spring May 1............Summer September 1........Fall December 1.....Winter


The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International Periodical PostageMu State Organization Paid at Tallahassee, FL Florida Rays Bonnie S. Kelley, [email protected] Postmaster Send address changes to The DKG Society International PO Box 1589 Austin, Texas 78767-1589

Folding the Florida Rays reduces the cost for mailing.Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Chapter PresidentForm 6, Report of the Death of a DKG Member, is to be prepared by the chapter president imme-diately upon the death of a member. A copy is to be sent to each of the follow-ing:

Membership Services AdministrationP.O. Box 1589

Austin, TX 78767or [email protected]

Beverly StaggMu State Treasurer

[email protected]

Joann HigginsMu State Necrologygammanuhiggins

@yahoo.com

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International...

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Transcript of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International...